Signal switch



y 1939- D. o. SEAMAN 2,156,703

S IGNAL SWITCH Filed May 22, 1936 [N 5 LAT] ON T 5 BY DELEIEHT U. EEHMH 97; 7MMM ATTORN E Y.,

. INVENTOR.

Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED S'IAiES ZPATENT ()FFIE 3 Claims.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple and eflicient switch means for signalling the tentative right or left turn of an automotive vehicle in advance of the turn to allow oncoming vehicles to heed the warning.

A further object of my invention is to provide a directional signalling device that will sound an audible warning such as a horn or like, when the device is operated to signal the direction of turn, but which will not sound the warning signal when the device is being turned back to its neutral or off position.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a directional signalling device that will utilize the penetrating glow of the common neon or neon-argon type of glow tube.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a signalling device for automotive vehicles wherein the manually operated switch may be conveniently and neatly installed in the drivers compartment of the vehicle and which may be operated with one hand.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a directional signalling device that is economical in manufacture and durable in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the back of the switch used in my directional signalling device.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the back of the switch with the cover plate removed and more fully illustrates its interior construction.

Fig. 3 is a side View of the complete switch with the lower portion broken away as on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional View of a portion of the rotor within the switch showing the construction of one of the contact breaker shields.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a portion of the rotor within the switch, showing the construction of the outer contact plate.

Fig. 6 is a top sectional view taken on line 6-45 of Fig. 3 and illustrates the stop socket for holding the switch non-positively in an ofi or neutral position.

Fig. '7 is a cross sectional view of one of the spring tension contact members.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the complete directional signalling device showing the method of wiring the switch into the circuit.

With my device an audible warning signal is sounded when the device is placed in operation to signal a turn and is fully adaptable to the use of the gaseous type of signalling lamps. My device is not liable to mechanical failures and presents further apparent advantages.

Referring to the drawing, I have used the numeral to designate the housing of the switch used in my device. This housing is moulded of a suitable dielectric material, circular in cross section and has an enlarged opening in one end thereof which will accommodate a rotor H, as shown in the drawing.

The rotor H is centered within the housing Ill and has secured to its center and on one of its facesan upwardly extending, round shaft l2. The upper part of the housing Hi is reduced and forms an elongated bearing member for the shaft it. This elongated bearing member is recessed on its inner side to accommodate a tension spring l3, coiled about the shaft l2 and which rests against the shoulder at the upper end of the recess within the elongated bearing member as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The other end of the coil spring I3 rests against the rotor I! forcing it downwardly. The upper end of the shaft i2 is rigidly secured to a knob or suitable handle member ii for the manual operation of the switch. The numeral i5 designates a small protruding, rounded stop secured to the lower side of the knob i l, in contact with the top of the elongated bearing portion of the housing It], and is held in yielding contact with the top of the elongated portion of the housing IE by the spring i3 and non-positively held in one position of its travel by dropping into a small semispherical depression l6 cut in the top of the elongated bearing portion of the housing In and which is illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawing.

Moulded into and flush with the face surface and outside peripheral surface of the rotor II is a contact plate Hi. This contact plate ll extends approximately one-fourth of the circumference of the rotor Ii and has its face surface extending a distance beyond its peripheral surface, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. The numeral l8 designates a similar contact plate moulded into and flush with the face surface and outside peripheral surface of the rotor ll, insulated from the contact plate I1 and having its face extending a greater distance about the marginal edge of the rotor than its peripheral face.

The numeral 59 designates a contact spring which has one of its ends yieldingly bearing on the outside peripheral edge of the rotor l i and which, when the rotor is rotated to the left, comes in contact with the plate ll. This contact spring it has its other end secured to the housing Ed by the bolt of the binding post Zil which is in contact with the spring l9 and which may have secured to its outer end a lead wire for continuing into the electrical circuit. I have used the numeral 2! to designate a second contact spring which has one of its ends yieldingly bearing against the outside peripheral surface of the rotor H and which, when the rotor is rotated to the right, comes in contact with the plate it. The spring 2! is in contact with and secured to the housing It) by the bolt of a binding post 22 capable of receiving a lead wire for continuing into the electrical circuit. The numeral 23 designates a flat contact plate embedded flush with the surface of the rotor H near its center. This flat plate is substantially circular in shape for a reater part of its circumference and has integrally formed thereon two outwardly extending cars 24 and 25 which are of substantially greater length than the diameter of the flat contact plate 23 and are in continuation of its surface. The plate 23 has a cutaway portion rectangular in shape bounded by the two ears and 25, and extending to within a short distance of the center of the plate 23 as is illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The numeral 26 designates a breaker shield pivotally secured near its lower end to the rotor H, out of, and insulated from possible contact with the plate 23 by a thin dielectric sheet 2?, as shown in Fig. 4. The breaker shield 25 is so designed that the edge adjacent the arm 2 of the plate 23 is bevelled or sloped to allow a contact pin to slide onto the surface of the shield 26 and out of contact with the arm 2 Secured to the upper end of the shield for a portion of its length is a curved spring 28 which has its surface extending at right angles to the surface of the breaker shield 26 and which has its lower end free to spring outwardly when pressure is applied against it so that a contact point, rotated on an arc at an angle to its surface will push its lower end outward until that contact pin slips past the lower end of the spring 28 to return, when rotated in the opposite direction on the outside of the spring The numeral 29 designates a breaker shield pivctally mounted near one of its ends to the rotor i i at a point diametrically opposite the pivot point of the breaker shield 26. The breaker shield 29 is out of, and insulated from possible contact with the plate 23 by a thin dielectric sheet similar to the construction shown in Fig. l. The breaker shield 29 is so designed that the edge adjacent the arm 25 of the plate 28 is sloped to allow the approach of a contact pin onto the surface of the shield 29. Its construction and operation being identical with that of the shield A curved spring Si is secured to the upper end of the shield 29 as shown in the drawing. The numeral 32 designates a bow spring secured at center to the rotor l l and having each of its arms extending along the rear face of the rotor ll, thence at right angles through slots 33 and 36 cut in the rotor and into operative with each of the shields and respectively, for yieldingly holding these shields in their outward normal position as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The numeral 35 indicates a back plate made of insulating material which is se cured to the enlarged rear open end of the housing i l by bolts 36. Secured to the back plate 35 and extending through this back plate are the contact pin assemblies 37, til, and ll of a representative construction as follows:

Each consists of an internally threaded ferrule designed to be secured to the back plate 35 by a countersunk nut or the like E3 and having about the contact pin a spring 3 which has its lower end resting against a collar 8%: integrally formed on the contact pin and its upper end in engagement with an adjusting nut it which may be screwed to a greater or lesser depth into the internally threaded ferrule 32 for the purpose of increasing the tension of the contact pin when it is brought in Contact with a non-yielding surface. This contact pin assembly is illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawing.

By the above construction it will be seen that when the back plate is secured to the housing ill the contact pin 37 will be in contact with the face surface of the contact plate ll, the rotor being in its normal neutral position, the contact pin will be in yieldin contact with the face of the rotor it within the rectangular open portion, and out of contact with the arms. 24 and or the plate .23. The contact pin 39 will rest in the open portion cut in the plate 23 and is so positioned from the center that the arc of rotation of the plate when the rotor is turned, will include the contact pin 35? therein. The contact pin will be in yielding contact with the plate 23 and the contact pin ll will be in yielding contact with the face surface of the plate 58. The numeral i'i indicates a rigid wall integrally formed on the rotor l i, adjacent to the inner circular edges or" the plates ii and i8, extending completely around the center of the rotor l l and at right angles to its surface as shown in the drawing. This wall is for the purpose of preventing any arcing between the low or high tension circuits within the switch.

Referring to Fig. 8 of the drawing, I have used the numeral to designate the battery of an automotive vehicle having one of its terminals connected to a common source or ground and having its other terminal in electrical communication with the contact pin to through the wire This wire ii is also connected to the input of a high tension transformer 5t and may have this connection with the transformer 53 broken by a suitable switch 55 as is commonly used as a stop light switch on an automotive vehicle. Connected to the wire 39 and adjacent the transformer til is a common blinker unit or current interrupter 52 having its other terminal connected by a lead wire 53 to the contact pin 3% of the switch. The numeral 5 designates a high tension wire in communication between the high tension lead of the transformer 56, the binding post of the switch, and a stop light 55 which is of the ordinary gaseous type and which has its other electrical contact in communication with the com non ground. This wire at is also in electrical communication with the binding post 22 of the switch. The numeral 53 designates a common type electrically operated horn having one of its. connections grounded and its other connection in electrical communication with the contact pin 38 through a wire til. The numeral 53 designates a right hand indicator, electrically operated and of the gaseous type of glow tube having one of its terminals grounded and its other terminal in electrical communication through a wire 59 with the contact pin ll. The numeral 60 designates a left hand indicator, electrically operated and of the gaseous glow tube type having one of its terminals grounded and its other terminal in electrical communication through a wire 6| with the contact pin 31.

The numerals B3 and 64 designate two pins spaced apart from, on either side of, and parallel to the contact pin 38. These pins are permanently secured to the back plate 35, terminate a distance from the rotor, and are for the purpose of contacting the springs 28 and 3| respectively, slipping past the lower edge of the springs and guiding the contact pin 38 along the shield upon its return out of contact with either of the arms 24 or 25, respectively, so that as the pins travel up the outside of the springs the breaker shield will be drawn toward the center against the tension of the bow spring 32 until the contact pin is allowed to drop into the open rectangular space between the arms 24 and 25.

I have used the numeral to designate a round shaft secured to and extending at right angles to the surface of the rotor H at its center. The numeral 56 indicates a bearing member secured to the plate 35 to receive the shaft 65 for holding the rotor H in rigid alignment while being rotated.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the driver of an automotive vehicle intends to turn to the right he will rotate the knob M to the right. The stop I5 will come out of engagement with the semi-spherical depression [6, the end of the contact spring 2! will engage the peripheral face of the plate l8 so that, the contact pin 4! being in contact with the face surface of the plate ill, a continuous circuit will result between the high tension lead of the transformer 58, through the binding post 22, the spring 2!, the plate IS, the contact pin ll, and thence through the wire 59 to the light or indicator 58. At the same time the contact pin 39 will come into contact with the plate 23 which will form a continuous circuit from the battery to the contact pin 49, through the plate 23, through the contact pin 39, the wire 53, the blinker or interrupter 52, to the input of the transformer 55, which is grounded and lighting the glow tube indicator 58.

When the knob I4 is rotated the contact pin 38 will come into electrical contact with the arm 24 closing the circuit from the battery to the horn 56 through the wire 49, contact pin 40, plate 23, arm 24, contact pin 38, wire 51, and into the horn 56 whose other terminal is connected to the common ground. As the knob is rotated further the contact pin 38 will slide upon the breaker shield 25, the pin 53 will contact the spring 28, and during its travel will push the spring outwardly until it passes the lower end of the spring 23. As the knob I4 is rotated back to its neutral position the pin 53 will then travel along the outside face of this spring 28 thereby holding the contact pin 38 on the breaker shield 26 and will force the breaker shield to pivot toward the center allowing the pin 38 to drop into the open space between the arms 24 and 25 without making contact with the arm 24 upon its return. This breaker shield 26 is pulled toward the center by the pin 63 against the tension of the bow spring 32 and after the contact pin 38 drops into the open space between the arms 24 and 25. the breaker shield 25 will return to its normal position. Likewise when the knob I4 is turned to the left a similar action takes place except the pin 38 slides across the arm 25 onto the breaker 29. The pin 64 contacts the spring 3|, slides past its lower end upon further rotation, and holds the contact pin 38 on the shield bringing it back, when the device is returned to a neutral position, to the open space between the arms 24 and 25 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Also the spring I 9 will contact the peripheral edge of the plate I! on the rotor II closing the electrical circuit to the left hand indicating light or lights.

In use my device sounds an audible signal concurrently with the lighting of the light signalling the direction of turn. When it is desired to place indicating lights at the front as well as the rear of the vehicle the front light may be wired in series or parallel to the corresponding light at the rear. The front indicators may be so constructed as to emit a greenish light and those on the rear a red light.

Due to the particularly penetrating glow of the neon or gaseous type of glow tube it is especially efficient for use in fog and catches the eye very readily. I have provided a stop light in my circuit so that I can take every advantage of the penetrating qualities of the gaseous type of tube. These gaseous tubes require a high frequency current for their operation and consequently I have provided a transformer in the circuit. By interposing in the circuit a current interrupter or blinker, the indicators will intermittently flash, calling them to the attention of the driver signalled and increasing the effectiveness of the device.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my improved directional signal apparatus for automotive vehicles without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a switch for operating signalling apparatuses, a cup housing, a non-metallic contact supporting plate secured to and enclosing the open end of said housing, a shaft rotatably mounted in the bottom of said cup housing, a non-metallic rotor element in said housing and secured to said shaft, an operating handle on the other end of said shaft external of said housing, a yielding stationary contact member extending through said plate and engaging the surface of said rotor element, a U-shaped contact plate on said rotor element, pivoted shield members on either side of said U-shaped element, a means for yieldingly holding said pivoted shield members in alignment; said contact point contacting said U-shaped member when said rotor is turned in either direction and contacting one of said shield arms after a pre-determined arc of rotation has been reached said shield arm supporting said contact point out of contact with said U-shaped member when said rotor is returned to a normal position, and a means for electrically connecting said U-shaped member into an electric circuit; said stationary contact being connected to an electric circuit.

2. In a switch designed to operate an electrically operated signal, a non-metallic cup shaped housing, a non-metallic plate on the open side of said housing, a shaft rotatably mounted in the bottom portion of said housing, a non-metallic rotor secured to one end of said shaft within said housing, a manually operated handle on the other end of said shaft, a metallic U-shaped member on said rotor, a means for collectively connecting said U-shaped member to one side of a source of electrical energy, a contact point extending through said plate and having one end in yielding contact with the face of said rotor and its other end designed to be electrically connected to the signal element, shield arms pivotally mounted to said rotor on each side of said U-shaped member and insulated therefrom, and a means for yieldingly holding said shield arms at the outward extremity of their pivoting movement; said contact member contacting the arms of said U-shaped member when said rotor is manually turned in either direction and lifted from said U-shaped member and supported by one of said shield arms when said rotor has been manually rotated a pre-determined distance and being supported by said shield arm out of contact with said U-shaped member when said rotor is returned to its normal position; said stationary contact completing electrical circuit to said signal when contacting said U-shaped member.

3. In a switch, a housing, a rotor rotatably mounted in said housing, a means for manually rotating said rotor, a U-shaped member on said rotor designed to be electrically connected into an electric circuit, a contact point supported by said housing in yielding contact with the face of said rotor and designed to be connected into an electrical circuit, a pivoted shield member on either side of said U-shaped member adjacent thereto; U-shaped member when. said rotor is manually rotated for a pre-determined distance and contacting one of said shield members being supported and carried by said shield member out of contact with said U-shaped member when said rotor is rotated to its normal position, and a means for yieldingly holding said shield members in an outward position.

DELBERT O. SEAMAN.

said contact point contacting said 

